Constitution

As approved at the Annual General Meeting on 10th June 2009.
This constitution replaces the constitution approved at the Annual General Meeting on 20th June 2008

1. The club will be called HIGHLAND RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

2. Aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of the club will be:

Ã¯â€šÂ§To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in Rugby Football.
Ã¯â€šÂ§The object of the club is to provide facilities for and promote participation of the whole community in the sport of Rugby
Ã¯â€šÂ§To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club.
Ã¯â€šÂ§To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone.
Ã¯â€šÂ§To ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment.

3. Powers

The Club shall have powers to do all things necessary for the purpose of achieving its aims and objectives including

Ã¯â€šÂ§Power to acquire (whether by way of feu, purchase, excambion, lease or otherwise), hold manage and sell or otherwise dispose of land and buildings.
Ã¯â€šÂ§Power to borrow money for any purpose of the club either as security of land held by the club or otherwise.
Ã¯â€šÂ§Power to enter into arrangements with any other club, society, association or body corporate, or with any private person or persons, for joint acquisition, ownership or management of any land or building for any purpose of the club.
Ã¯â€šÂ§Power to apply for and hold a license under the Licensing (Scotland) Act as amended or to enter into arrangements with any other club for that purpose.
Ã¯â€šÂ§Power to make rules as to the conduct of ClubÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s business or the management of the clubÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s property or for any other purpose.

4. Equity

The Club operates an Equal Opportunities Policy where no one is denied the right to equal access on the grounds of age, race, creed, colour, gender, disability, occupation, religion, sexual orientation or political persuasion or marital status or having or not having dependants and where there is equality of opportunity in terms of the playing rights and the rights of members to attend general meetings, vote and hold office.

5. Protection

The Club is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation.

Staff and volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and young people.

6. Membership

Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds. There will be no discrimination on grounds of race, age occupation, sex or religious, political or other opinion

Membership shall consist of officers and members of the club.

All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and codes of conduct that the club has adopted.

Members will be enrolled in one of the following categories:
Ã¯â€šÂ§ adult member
Ã¯â€šÂ§ playing member
Ã¯â€šÂ§ junior member
Ã¯â€šÂ§And other such categories as may be determined at the Annual General Meeting.
Ã¯â€šÂ§The club may refuse membership or expel from membership only for good and sufficient cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against such a decision may be made to a separate appeals panel containing none of the persons involved in the original decision and decided by majority vote.

7. Membership Fees

Membership fees will be set annually and agreed by the Executive/ Management Committee or determined at the Annual General Meeting.

Fees will be paid annually by Ist September.
8. Officers of the Club

The officers of the club will be:
Chairman
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Secretary
Fixtures Secretary
Director of Rugby
Head of Facilities
Head of Facility Development
Head of Sponsorship
Head of Events
Child Protection Officer
Volunteer Coordinator
and such others as may from time to time are deemed appropriate.

Officers will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and all officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-appointment.

9. Committee

The club will be managed through the Management Committee consisting of:
Chairman, President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Fixtures Secretary, Director of Rugby, Head of Facilities, Head of Facility Development, Head of Sponsorship, Head of Events, Child Protection Officer, Volunteer Coordinator and any other relevant position by co-option by the Management Committee.

Only these posts will have the right to vote at meetings of the Management Committee.

The Management Committee will be convened by the Secretary of the club and hold no less than Eight Meetings per year.

The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management
Committee meetings will be Four

The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organization of the club and will have powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary and appoint advisers to the Management Committee as necessary to fulfill its business.

The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations/constitution and will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.
10. Finance

The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.

The income of the Club shall be used solely for furthering the aims and objectives of the club and for no other purpose.

All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club.

The financial year of the club will end on 30th April and a statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.

11. Annual General Meetings

Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be given by the Club Secretary. Not less than 21 clear daysÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ notice to be given to all members.

The AGM will receive a report from officers of the Management Committee and a statement of the accounts.

Elections of officers are to take place at the AGM.

All members have the right to vote at the AGM.

The quorum for AGMs and EGMÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s will be 20.

The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGMs will be the same as for the AGM.

12. Discipline and appeals

All complaints regarding the behavior of members should be submitted in writing to the Secretary.

The Management Committee will meet to hear complaints within 7days of complaint being lodged. The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.

The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the hearing.

There will be the right of appeal to replace the Management Committee with a separate appeals panel containing none of the persons involved in the original decision following disciplinary action being announced. The committee should consider the appeal within 21days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.

13. Dissolution

If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all the ClubÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be given or transferred to the sports governing body the Scottish Rugby Union or itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s successors for use by them in related community sports.

A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote of the membership.

14. Amendments to the constitution
The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

12. Declaration

HIGHLAND RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.